“We shall all consider ourselves unauthorized to saddle posterity with our debts, and morally bound to pay them ourselves.”
— Thomas Jefferson
The U.S. National Debt has Finally Become
the Threat We’ve Always Feared
With a massive debt-to-income ratio of nearly 7.5 to 1, and a yearly $1 trillion + interest payment that can’t be made without borrowing every dime, Washington is effectively bankrupt already. And while it might dodge disaster a little longer as Congress borrows up to $2 trillion more annually, Washington further imperils America with the threat of an economy-killing default each year it persists in this extreme financial risk-taking. Therefore, the time for constitutional reform has come.
To Neutralize the Threat …
The STATES must orchestrate the adoption of a Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) using their power under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. Here’s how:
- Two-thirds of the state legislatures (34/50) must call for a convention to draft and propose a BBA, and three-quarters of the states (38/50) must ratify it.
Fortunately, we already have 27 of the 34 states required to call a convention to propose a BBA (see map).
- However, we do NOT want a convention. We want to use the threat of a convention, achieved at 33 states, to force Congress to propose a BBA.
This Strategy Has Historic Precedent
The threat of a convention is what forced Congress to propose the 17th Amendment. Accordingly, when we reach 33 states, Congress is highly likely to propose a BBA. The driving force will be its desire to control drafting of the amendment (the fiscal rules it must budget by forever).
Advancing to 33 States & Ratification
- We will push from 27 – 32 states with campaigns in Colorado, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada & Virginia.
- That’s when eight former members of Congress (four Democrats & four Republicans w/budget expertise) will draft a bipartisan BBA which can achieve ratification in at least three-quarters of the states (38/50).
- We will push to 33 states and then STOP to present Congress with the chance to propose the bipartisan BBA in order to avert a convention.
- Once the BBA is proposed, it will likely be ratified by 30 GOP states within a year while the final push through 8 Democrat states could take 2 – 3 years.
The Idaho Campaign
We have assembled a team of Idaho all-stars to help us pass a Balanced Budget Amendment resolution in 2025.
- This would require passage through the Idaho House and Senate, but no governor’s signature is necessary.
To finance our efforts, we must seek support from individuals because we lack permanent funding. We hope to match the $50k from our national non-profit with $50k from Idaho.
- These funds will go to pay for our Idaho lobbyist, political consultants, college intern, and digital campaign.
In honor of Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and Ronald Reagan, the greatest historic Balanced Budget Amendment supporters, we invite you to join the Idaho team as a Jefferson, Hamilton or Reagan club-level supporter.
- Jefferson Club Level Supporter – $5,000
- Hamilton Club Level Supporter – $2,500
- Reagan Club Level Supporter – $1,000
As a thank-you for giving, you will be invited to an exclusive event in Boise during the 2025 legislative session featuring Governor. Brad Little, former Governor Butch Otter and a VIP guest (to be announced).
